Amanda Williams

Â Downtown Oakland’s First Fridays Art Murmur is so hip it’s hardly a murmur anymore. It’s a full-on shout that downtown Oakland is the place to befor art lovers on the first Friday of the month.

You see, several studios open their doors for opening receptions of all sorts. Some artists gather near those doors and present their own pieces for the evening. People are walking and biking the neighborhood, going from gallery space to gallery space looky-looing at the art, the good and the bad. The Oakland Museum of California even stays open late on the first Friday of the month to participate in the event.

Michael Sacramento “1985 Air Jordans, 2007″ Acrylic on wood. 36 x 36”

This weekend, there’s something different on the line for the Art Murmur. Specifically, there’s a show being hung at the Uptown Body and Fender shop near all the other galleries that is simply a “you can’t miss this” show.

Rebecca Shortle “Bio\Logic 016″ Acrylic on panel, 36 x 36”

Basically, a group of nine artists are transforming the body and fender shop into a painting exhibition they are calling “Road Trip.” The event explores the creative paths taken by the individual artists and reflects the spirit of their group.

The story of the group is an interesting one. Many of the members first met in 2004 while participating in that Taking the Leap Art Business Program. They were all students of painter and mentor Jamie Brunson. When their program ended in early 2005, they decided to keep meeting regularly as a group.

Jane Norling, “Capp3/Urgup” Oil & graphite on rag paper, 36 x 36″

Since then, the group has exchanged ideas about the creative process monthly as well as shared resources, processes, and encouragement.

“Road Trip” opens at 6 p.m. Friday at Uptown Body and Fender, 401 26th St. between Broadway and Telegraph Avenue. The exhibit continues through the weekend of March 8 and 9, open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Here are some more tastes of what you will see at “Road Trip.”

Tracy Rocca, “Seedling Study,” Oil on polyester over panel, 24 x 24″

I personally love seeing a bunch of work from different artists being displayed in one place, especially if the work is of this quality. The pieces are diverse as are the themes and it seems fresh and vibrant expression.